Activities

World capitalism in crisis and turmoil – fighting for a socialist
alternative

World capitalism in crisis and turmoil – fighting for a socialist
alternative

In the last years, the worst economic crisis since the 1930s has turned
the world upside down. In every part of the world, there were dramatic
collapses as the near 20 year boom of world capitalism turned to bust.
The rabid right-wing neo-liberal policies pursued by governments around
the world during that period have been thoroughly discredited, as the
free market’s most ardent defenders desperately resorted to state
regulation and intervention, with multi-billion dollar financial
stimulus packages implemented around the world.

However, the trillions of dollars of taxpayers’ money thrown at the
banks was not aimed at lessening the impact of the crisis on working
people internationally, but was a desperate attempt to save
crisis-ridden capitalism from total collapse. They way capitalist
governments have responded to the crisis has enraged millions worldwide.
But the actions of austerity of these governments, in attacking the
living standards of the majority – with mass unemployment and savage
attacks on public services – while bending over backwards for the bosses
and bankers, has proved no surprise to socialists.

The CWI has a long and proud tradition of fighting for a socialist
alternative to this crisis-ridden capitalist system.

Capitalism is based on the control of a super-rich elite – big
businesses and corporations – over the wealth of society. Their reckless
management of the economy, in the pursuit of maximum profit at any cost
is the source of the major problems of mankind today, such as crisis,
unemployment, poverty, hunger, war and environmental destruction.

On the basis of a socialist society, where the economy is planned
democratically, with the resources of the planet under the control of
the majority, we could begin to solve these fundamental problems.

We completely reject the grotesque distortion of “socialism” which
existed in the Stalinist regimes in former USSR and Eastern Europe,
where planned economies were presided over by privileged bureaucratic
dictatorships.

Building the fightback

The CWI has parties, groups and individuals in over 45 countries around
the world.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with workers and young people around the
world in struggle against the attacks of the bosses and for a fairer,
better society. Our members play a key role in the Trade Union movement,
and have been instrumental in leading victorious struggles against
sackings and attacks on Trade Union rights in the recent past. We are
part and parcel of the fightback which is developing internationally as
millions have taken to the streets saying “we won’t pay for their
crisis!”.

Mass struggles and strikes, including general strikes in Greece, Spain
and Portugal and the role of the working class in the initial overthrow
of dictators like Ben Ali in Tunisia or Mubarak in Egypt have again
shown in action the immense power of the working class.

The CWI argues for the transformation of the trade union movement
internationally into a fighting movement that can offer a militant
effective strategy to the working class movement in the fight against
attacks and for improved conditions and living standards.

In all of the movements and struggles that have developed, a striking
feature has been the absence of political representation for working
people. The parties which workers looked to as “theirs”, such as the
various labour and social democratic parties of Europe have now been
completely transformed into capitalist parties.

The CWI fights for the formation of new mass parties that can give a
political voice to workers and youth in struggle and galvanise the mass
opposition to the bosses and their parties. Joe Higgins as a member of
the Irish Parliament and Paul Murphy, member of the European Party, both
elected for the Socialist Party (CWI Ireland), give an excellent
example, how workers’ representatives can act. The sections of the CWI
are working within broader alliances and left parties and seeking
collaboration to win such positions for the working class and build new
mass forces to develop the struggle. The CWI strives to arm such
formations with a socialist programme to move beyond the framework of
the dictatorship of the banks and corporations.

In the neo-colonial world, in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and
Nigeria, where the lives of the majority are dominated by poverty,
hunger and communalist war and terror, the CWI plays a heroic role as
the only force working to build a united movement of workers and the
poor against the dead end of capitalism and imperialism.

Young members of the CWI are involved in campaigns for free and decent
education, against precarious jobs and in the movements against the
capitalist globalisation.

The sections of the CWI are involved in women’s struggles for equal pay,
against attacks on abortion rights and for a society, free of sexist
oppression. We fight for an end of any discrimination and oppression
based on gender, nationality, race or any ethnic or communalist lines.

To be successful, the struggle against capitalism requires ideas, a
political programme, and an organisation that is able to unite workers
and oppressed people across the globe, a Marxist programme.

The CWI aims to build such an organisation. We think that organised
workers and youth in their millions are stronger than the millionaires.
That is why we need more people to join us in the struggle for socialism!

If you are interested in joining the international struggle
for socialism and becoming a member of the cwi or you have read
our ideas and seen what activities we are involved in and want to
find out more then fill in the form below.

The cwi offices in London and our affiliated organisation
or party in the country you are in will then contact you.

If there is no cwi organisation or party in your country we
will give you help and advice on how to set up a group amongst
your friends, workmates, or fellow college students who can
affiliate to the cwi.

If you have any questions send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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